Crop Genetics Lab

About

During my doctoral research, I focused on unravelling sex determination mechanisms in dioecious Coccinia grandis through an integrated transcriptomics and proteomics approach. As a postdoctoral researcher, I studied sex determination and fruit shape determination in melon as well as fruit set control in tomato employing a range of molecular biology, genetics, and -omics technologies.

Looking ahead, I plan to identify crucial sex-determining regulators in orphan cucurbits cultivated in India, such as bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ivy gourd, sponge gourd. For instance, in crops that develop low number of pistillate flowers, such as bottle gourd and other orphan crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, gynoecy could practically increase the yield and greatly help in F1 hybrid seed production. Also, engineering hermaphrodite or parthenocarpic lines has the potential to substantially boost yield by eliminating the need for pollinators. This work has the potential to play a vital role in ensuring food security and income generation for underprivileged farmers in developing nations.